JP - While I do refine my designs on paper occasionally, nearly everything I post here is drawn directly onto the stone without any pre-planning, other than a vague thematic urge.In this case the words "savage" (see below) and "cannibal" - and I knew it had to incorporate a skull too. I really liked the quartz veins in this stone, and as soon as I picked it up I saw this evil little face in it!

Hewey, that pic is spot on for the feel I wanted - I often skim through my reference folder for vibe when I'm doing a new piece (less so now I've clocked up almost 50 pieces) or look through books relating to the appropriate culture, but in this case I didn't do any of that at all - but there are still some remarkable similarities. The little negative space in the forehead (and the details to either side), slitted eyes, jagged teeth - I'm thinking I should rename this piece now ("Mask of the Savage" anyone?) I wonder if thinking of the word "savage" triggered some subconscious recall of this classic album cover? Hmmm....
(actually, I just had to check to see if I had that cover in my "tiki/albumcovers" folder...nope - but I do now!)